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LONDON — Aston Villa of the English Premier League said Monday it had agreed to a takeover by Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns in the United States.

The club said that Lerner would pay £62.6 million, or $118.8 million. Lerner's takeover vehicle, Reform Acquisitions, offered 547 pence for each Aston Villa share, the principals announced to the London Stock Exchange. That represents a premium of about 47 percent to the closing price last Sept. 16, the day before the beginning of the offer period.

"It is my belief and the basis for my bid to acquire Aston Villa Football Club that it can compete at the highest level within the Premiership and in Europe," Lerner said.

Lerner, former chairman of a major credit card issuer, MBNA, would be the second U.S. National Football League owner to buy a Premier League club.

The board of Aston Villa, which plays in Birmingham, recommended the transaction to shareholders and said owners of 56.85 percent of the shares had already agreed to the deal. The Villa chairman, Doug Ellis, who has owned the club since 1982 and has a 39 percent stake, put the club up for sale a year ago.

"It has been my sincere pleasure to have been involved with Aston Villa these many years, both as chairman and as a substantial shareholder," Ellis said.

"The club has been an enormous and immensely enjoyable part of my life."

Ellis, who first took charge in 1968-75 before returning seven years later, earned the nickname "Deadly Doug" for his reputation for firing managers. He has worked with 14 managers during his time and two weeks ago appointed Martin O'Neill as his latest manager.

The former Celtic and Leicester coach succeeds David O'Leary, who was fired last month after three seasons.

Villa has won the English league and English FA Cup seven times each, but its last league title was in 1981.

It captured the European Cup the following season, beating Bayern Munich in the final.

In the 14th minute, Ribéry tumbled inside the penalty area under a challenge from the Rennes midfielder Bruno Cheyrou, but penalty appeals were turned down.

Ribéry was shown the yellow card in the 67th for a dangerous tackle on Cheyrou.

With four minutes remaining, Ribéry capped a fine performance with a superb solo run. He beat four Rennes players before passing to Toifilou Maoulida, who easily slotted in Marseille's second goal.

Having twice stated his intention to leave the club, Ribéry said he would stay after coming on as a substitute in the team's UEFA Cup 3-3 draw at Young Boys Berne in Switzerland on Thursday.

"I'll repeat what I said: I want to stay here," Ribéry told Canal Plus television after the match. "It's fabulous. I love it here. It's a great atmosphere with 60,000 fans. We need to aim for second place, if not the title."

The veteran forward Mikäel Pagis had given the host the lead in the 37th minute.

Earlier Sunday, Lille went to the top of the table after the Nigerian Peter Odemwingie scored a hat trick in a 4-0 home victory over local rival Lens.

Mathieu Bodmer opened the scoring at 13 minutes with a towering header, and Odemwingie scored his first just past the half-hour mark.

After Sidi Keita of Lens was dismissed for a second yellow card four minutes later, Lille strolled to a convincing victory.

"I have everything to be happy for," Odemwingie said. "My team is top of the table, and I am leading the scoring charts." $@